MLB ROUNDUP: Ellsbury's blast lead Yankees past Reds

NEW YORK (AP) — Jacoby Ellsbury hit a two-run homer, and David Phelps pitched the Yankees to a fast start in the second half, leading New York to a 4-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Friday night.

Brian McCann and Carlos Beltran had two-out RBIs for the Yankees, who began a 10-game homestand. Dellin Betances struck out three in 1 2-3 perfect innings, and David Robertson got three outs for his 24th save in 26 chances.

Phelps (4-4) gave up three runs — two earned — and six hits in 6 1-3 innings against a lineup missing injured thumpers Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips. The right-hander struck out seven and walked one for his first win since June 19.

Brayan Pena, subbing for Votto at first base, homered twice for the Reds. Mike Leake (7-8) allowed four runs and eight hits in seven innings.

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RANGERS 5, BLUE JAYS 1

TORONTO (AP) — J.P. Arencibia hit a three-run homer against his former team, Yu Darvish matched his season high with 12 strikeouts, and Texas beat Toronto.

Adrian Beltre added a solo homer as the Rangers snapped their season-high, eight-game losing streak and won for just the second time in 13 road games.

Promoted from Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday, Arencibia was booed by the crowd of 38,012 before each of his at-bats, but silenced his detractors with a first-pitch homer off R.A. Dickey (7-10) in the seventh, his second.

Darvish (9-5) won for the first time in three starts, allowing one run and five hits in 6 2-3 innings. He reached the 10-strikeout plateau for the sixth time this season, all in his past 12 starts.

GIANTS 9, MARLINS 1

MIAMI (AP) — Pablo Sandoval hit a three-run homer off one of his favorite foils, and San Francisco topped slumping Miami.

All-Star Madison Bumgarner (11-7) allowed one run in six innings.

The Marlins lost their fifth game in a row, while San Francisco emerged from the All-Star break looking determined to end a prolonged scoring slump. The Giants began the night averaging less than three runs per game in July, worst in the majors, but they have totaled 17 runs in two games.

Aramis Ramirez added a two-run single for the NL Central leading Brewers.

Lohse (10-4) earned his first win since June 22. He allowed 10 hits, but just one run over seven innings as Washington went 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position.

Milwaukee shortstop Jean Segura was back in the lineup, a week after the death of his 9-month-old son, and went 1 for 4.

Bryce Harper had a homer and two singles for Washington, which began play percentage points ahead of Atlanta in the NL East. Francisco Rodriguez gave up Harper’s ninth-inning homer, but earned his 28th save.

Stephen Strasburg (7-7) allowed four runs and seven hits. He struck out nine in seven innings.

BRAVES 6, PHILLIES 4

ATLANTA (AP) — Jason Heyward homered and drove in two runs, Andrelton Simmons had two RBIs, and Atlanta won its third straight game with a victory over Philadelphia.

The Braves moved one game ahead of Washington in the NL East. Last-place Philadelphia dropped 11 games behind Atlanta.

The game was played in a steady drizzle, but the rain had nearly stopped when Braves closer Craig Kimbrel earned his 30th save in 34 chances.

Ervin Santana (8-6) gave up six hits, three walks and four runs — three earned — in six innings to win for the third time in four starts. He struck out one.

Phillies starter A.J. Burnett (6-9) allowed six runs, 10 hits — the last nine with two out — and one walk in five innings. He had five strikeouts as Philadelphia lost its third straight.

RED SOX 5, ROYALS 4

BOSTON (AP) — Jonny Gomes hit a go-ahead two-run pinch homer in the sixth after another two-run shot in the inning by Xander Bogaerts, and Boston edged Kansas City.

The Red Sox maintained their momentum after winning four of their last five games before the All-Star break.

Scott Downs (0-3) gave up the homer to Gomes, the first batter he faced after replacing James Shields.

CARDINALS 3, DODGERS 2

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Matt Holliday homered, doubled and drove in three runs, and Lance Lynn won his third straight start for St. Louis in a victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Kolten Wong had two hits and scored on both of Holliday’s RBI hits for the Cardinals against the team they beat in the NLCS last fall. They have won six of eight and remained a game behind the Brewers for the NL Central lead.

A.J. Ellis had an RBI double for the Dodgers. Los Angeles has scored only 10 runs in the last six games.

Tony Watson (6-1) earned the win with a scoreless eighth inning. Mark Melancon got Troy Tulowitzki, representing the tying run, to ground out to third to end it for his 17th save.

Starling Marte tripled and drove in two runs before leaving in the eighth, an inning after taking a fastball to the head.

Charlie Culberson and Corey Dickerson had two hits apiece for the Rockies but Colorado’s bullpen couldn’t give starter Jorge De La Rosa his fifth consecutive victory. The Rockies left 11 runners on base while losing their third straight.

WHITE SOX 3, ASTROS 2

CHICAGO (AP) — Slump-ridden Tyler Flowers drove in the go-ahead run with a seventh-inning double, and four Chicago pitchers retired the final 22 batters to lift the White Sox past Houston.

Alejandro De Aza singled off Scott Feldman and stole second before Flowers delivered the game-winning hit. He entered the game with only 12 hits in his last 116 at-bats, and a .218 batting average overall.

Daniel Webb (5-2) retired the six batters he faced in relief of Jose Quintana to earn the victory. Zach Putnam pitched a scoreless inning for his second save of the season.

After Quintana allowed a pair of unearned runs, he set down the final 10 batters he faced. The left-hander allowed three hits and two walks in five innings.

Feldman (4-7) took a four-hit shutout into the sixth inning, when Dayan Viciedo hit a two-run homer into the left-center field bleachers to tie it. In seven innings, Feldman allowed three runs, seven hits and three walks.